Monday, June 17, 2013

My book buying hiatus, and how well that's going

I found myself with a free afternoon this weekend. It was gorgeous out on Saturday so I thought, why not walk into town. I'll be outside, maybe I'll wander through the stores, grab some food. Good times.

I get down there and figure I'll pop by the bookstore. But I've told myself I don't want to buy anything right now cos I have a whole bunch of books sitting on my shelf that I really need to get to.  But what's the harm in seeing what they have? Here's the internal/text conversation I had

I'll just see what they have on the remainder tables. Probably nothing new just yet. Oh hey, what's this? A Visit from the Goon Squad audiobook, and only $10? Well now, that's interesting. And Boyfriend+ has been looking for an audiobook to listen to while in the car. I should see if he'd like this.

:text to BF+: "Visit from the Good Squad $10 audio. You want?"

Well, now I need to wait to see if he wants it, so I'll browse around a bit. 

Hmm good, it looks like all of the books I would want on the remainder tables I either have or I've read. Maybe I really won't buy anything. I mean, I was killing time in B&N the other day and didn't get anything. That was good.

:text from BF+: "Never heard of it"

Never heard of it?? How can that even be? Oh right, there are some people who don't spend a significant portion of their free time reading about the book world. Well fine then

:text to BF+: "If you read my blog you'd know it"

Wait, that's mean. I can't send just that. But how do I describe it in a text?

:text to BF+: "If you read my blog you'd know it. Won the Pulitzer a couple years ago. Interconnected short stories"

There, OK, well I've gone through all the remainder books, but I still need to know if he wants this. I'll just wander through the rest of the store. Hmm still no more Butler. I bought their only Butler book months ago and they've never gotten more. That's sad.*

I wonder how the hell they do the PPT chapter of Goon Squad on audio. That...that would be awkward if she describes the slides. 

Let's see what's over in the new releases section. Oh hey look, Warm Bodies. I want to read this. But no, I shouldn't get it. I already have enough to read. But I am sort of in a zombie mood, since I'm listening to World War Z**

:text from BF+: "OK"

OK? OK, get it? OK, that was a good enough description? OK, I'll start reading your blog?

:text to BF+: "I get it for you? You could always read a story before opening the audio. You don't like and I'll return"

Alright, I'll go back and grab that. And, I mean, since I'm going to the register anyway I may as well get  Warm Bodies.

Because apparently it was just the journey to the register keeping me from buying it? Wouldn't want to go up there with just one thing. That would be ridiculous. Maybe I'll just get the audiobook

Guy at the register: Just these two things then?
Me: Yup!

Yeah, so I'm getting both of them. Whoops

:text from BF+: "Sounds good"

Glad he meant for me to get it, since I already did and all.

My will power is impressive, no?

*Seriously bookstore, get more Butler. I guess I should actually see what of hers I don't have and then see if they can get it but really, I want them to have more Butler so other people will read her. Because she's great.
**It is EXCELLENT by the way. At least so far.

Comments (25)

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Love this internal dialogue. I think we can all relate.
1 reply · active 612 weeks ago
Haha I'm glad other people found this amusing. Cos I made myself laugh once I walked out of the store and thought about my thoughts...
I LOVE STORYTIME

And I mean, how harmful can it be for you to have ONE more book. Just one more. That's all. One little book never hurt anything. Nah.
1 reply · active 612 weeks ago
Gather round, children, and listen to the ramblings of someone who can't turn down a book and also feels the need to rehash all conversations, even internal ones.

I felt better when I looked at by TBR pile and realized less than 1/2 of them were ones I bought. Others were free so SEE IT'S FINE IF I BUY MORE
Add some cookbook into the mix and that's pretty much my life.
1 reply · active 612 weeks ago
Haha my mom randomly buys me cookbooks, when she realizes she bought herself the same one twice (this has happened multiple times), therefore I never need to buy them for myself
I loved your internal monologue + texting. So much fun to read!

I, too, am curious how that power point chapter will work on audio. You'll have to let us know once boyfriend+ listens to it.
1 reply · active 612 weeks ago
I told Boyfriend+ to read one of the stories from the book before we open the audiobook, but I'm hoping he'll just decide he wants to give it a try. Or I'll decide screw it, I'm opening this myself and thus it won't be returned.
Oh, we've all been there! I have bought my husband presents of books purely because I wanted to read them before.
1 reply · active 612 weeks ago
I really try to stop myself from doing that. It's hard. :)
THIS IS THE BEST!! If you'd like to know about my internal buying books monologue, it basically goes *walks into a charity shop* Oh look, a book I vaguely want. And it costs £1?! *buys book* *repeats hundreds of times* *dies buried in a pile of books*

ALSO I really hope boyfriend+ enjoys Goon Squad cause it is SO GOOD and he clearly needs it in his life.
1 reply · active 612 weeks ago
Yay I'm glad you enjoy. It's probably best I don't go to a lot of charity shops for books, or else I would be going through the exact scenario you describe above.

RIGHT? I mean, I'm really doing him a favor forcing Goon Squad on him
This post is EXCELLENT and demonstrates very clearly the book addiction mindset. It's so difficult to go in a bookstore when you're just meant to be looking.

Le sigh...
1 reply · active 612 weeks ago
Awww thank you. And yes, it's true. I really thought I'd be fine. I had nothing but time to kill earlier in the week in a bookstore and managed to avoid buying anything. I guess I used up all my willpower there.
I've heard the World War Z audio book is fantastic. Also, more Butler!

You only bought 2 things. That's way more self control than I have.
1 reply · active 612 weeks ago
So far WWZ on audio is excellent. One complaint with the book is that the characters sound the same. Since every character is read by a different actor, it helps with that a lot. You know, obviously.
I can definitely relate! The only way I'd stop buying books would be if I wasn't allowed out and no post was allowed in (or people bearing parcels).
1 reply · active 612 weeks ago
I used to be pretty good about not buying too many books. I blame this book blog because now I have a huge list of books I want to check out.
My plan this school year was to only buy used books at charity book sales or books on the super sale rack at B&N or the super discount list for the Kindle.

By my count, I've bought 17 books, 5 ebooks on sale, one full-priced ebook about the science of weightlifting, and a John Candy DVD. (The movie was $1 at a church book sale, and the director has the same name as me. It's a no-brainer!) And that's not counting what my wife bought.
1 reply · active 612 weeks ago
I'm not sure how many books I've actually bought this year or during the school year (your school year I guess, if we're measuring this stuff). Maybe I should keep a list of all the books I buy...
Haha! This was great! My husband pretty much texts in the same way as Boyfriend+ does. One word text responses which elicits 5 more questions from myself. Sigh.

I just watched Warm Bodies actually. Like literally, 2 hours ago. It was cute, but moved slow. I'll be interested to hear how you like the book!
1 reply · active 612 weeks ago
Isn't it annoying to just get back an 'OK'? I need more detailed texts. (Granted Boyfriend+ was at a conference thing for work BUT STILL)

Hmm I hope the book is less slow. I would like to see the movie as well. Perhaps after the book has been read.
Don't worry, books are never an unnecessary buy.

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